Georgia Magazine - January 2011 - (Page 34)

From the hearth A healthy diet—for your fireplace By Rodney PhilliPs W hether you have a masonry fireplace or a manufactured one, safety and durability depend on feeding your cheery fire with the proper fuel. It’s not just a choice between softwood (like pine) or hardwood (oak and hickory); the initial condition of the billets and how they are stored make all the difference between a sweet-performing fire and a smoky, balky irritant or a roaring, jet engine-type flue fire. Look to the wood Maybe your fireplace has already earned its keep this season, providing cozy evenings of flickering highlights and special warmth. Or perhaps the experience has been less than desired. Look to the wood. One Georgia resident was frustrated by her newly installed manufactured fireplace. It would not draw air and smoked up the master bedroom. Design or construction flaws can produce this effect in built-on-site masonry fireplaces, but so can poorly installed metal prefabricated units. Charlie Hanft of Hearth and Patio, in Tucker, was called in. A thorough inspection revealed no installation missteps in the firebox, damper or flue. What then? Charlie took the inspection outside to a rack of neatly stacked, split logs, where he discovered there wasn’t a good burn in any of them. Stored with full exposure to the weather, the seasoned wood was soaking wet, and the rest was cut too recently. Wet or unseasoned wood is hard to ignite, burns “cool” and produces prodigious amounts of smoke without the hot updraft that sends smoke where it should go. These same conditions also set the stage for exces34 PHOTOSPIN sive creosote collection in the flue and a possible chimney fire. How to tell if firewood is properly seasoned Time is one factor. This season’s wood should have been cut in the spring. Six months or so of air-drying is required. Look for cracks and splits in the cut ends of the billets. Wood shrinks and cracks as it dries. The wood should also feel light for its size, give a sharp or hollow sound when struck, and be free of any moldy or musty smells. Logs that sound dull and are soft on impact, or hiss and ooze water while burning, are rejects. Pound for pound, softwoods produce the same heat as hardwoods. Softwoods will also burn as cleanly when properly seasoned and stored—that is, dry and under cover. Types of wood burn differently, and a pound-for-pound comparison is More online at www.georgiamagazine.org a bit misleading because seasoned softwoods are less dense. Softwoods also burn more rapidly and do not produce a hot coal bed like hardwoods. There is nothing wrong with that. But for heat as well as light, hardwoods are the ticket. Pricing firewood Most folks purchase by the cord or truckload, which can mean a measurably higher cost per unit of heat with softwoods. The one uniform measurement for purchasing firewood is the cord, which is 128 cubic feet (4x4x8 feet) of closely stacked firewood. That is a lot of wood. Avoid random volumes. If the price is by the truckload, you have no way to determine actual volume. How big is the truck bed? Is the wood tightly stacked or loosely tossed in a pile? Is the wood cut to GEORGIA MAGAZINE 1 PHOTODIVA / ISTOCKPHOTO.COM http://www.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - January 2011

Georgia Magazine - January 2011
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar
Currents
Special Energy Report
A Country Boy Rolls
A Weekend in the Country
Around Georgia
My Georgia
Georgia@home
Gardens
Georgia Cooks
2011 Readers’ Choice Awards Entry Form
Cookbook of the Month
Snapshot

Georgia Magazine - January 2011

https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/libertynotes_billofrights
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_realitycheck
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_200910
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com